Fun at the pool

I think one of Monica's favorite things to do in the summer with the kids is go to the Buhr Park Pool. Hunter loves it there and it's a great way to spend the day when the weather cooperates. I love my two boys!

The "tot splash" area is so fun for kids
Jack loves the water too...he sits and splashes...he's nuts in the water--you should see him in the bathtub...he gets Nick and I soaked b/c he splashes so much. He's toppled over face down in the water and doesn't even seem to care!
Why do kids like to sit on these fountains? My child is not the only one that does it, but he thinks it's hilarious...

Jennifer

My kids get out...

Two more random things that I had forgotten about since they were on my other camera...

Hunter and I met my good friend from high school (one of the two people I still talk to) Amber for dinner. We went to Lucky's in Novi...they have games, food, etc.

Playing ski-ball

Basketball...She put Hunter up in the part where the balls come out so he could reach

After dinner we went to Coldstone for ice cream :)

Then a couple of weeks ago the U of M Big House had an "open house" to showcase the new suites. Nick, Hunter, Chris & Mason went. Mason and Hunter are just a few months apart in age.

Nick said Hunter was pretty wild, but that is no surprise.

Thank You Gammy Dori

Gammy Dori came to visit one day last week to babysit. We had some rearranging to do with schedules and needed help with the kids, so she came to help out. We certainly appreciate the help and she is always happy to come see the kids! I think she had a rough day with Hunter (yelling, no nap, etc), but I'm sure she'll come back again--haha. Jack was a breeze as usual. She brought us lots of blueberries and a yummy blueberry pie. Showing me his bite of blueberry pie

I Heart Mommy and Mommy Loves Me

The onesie Jack is wearing here is one of my favorites. Over the weekend Jack and I had some bonding time while Nick took Hunter out to see Toy Story 3. It was a rainy Saturday, so nothing like going to the movies. They ate so much popcorn (two large buckets) neither of them ate dinner...I was not thrilled, but Nick claims it was the only way to keep Hunter sitting still to watch the movie. Monica didn't have any trouble, so I am wondering if I should believe him. I suppose it's not worth fighting about in the big scheme of things.

Even though he's looking down I love this picture. He looks so sweet...and he is!

About to topple backwards...

Ok, stop taking pictures and play with me!!!

The Movies and Aunt Em's softball game...

I finally moved pictures from my other point and shoot camera onto my computer, so I have a few "catching up" posts to do!

Right before we left to go up north a few weeks ago I stayed home to pack with Jack and Monica took Hunter to his first movie. They went to see Spongebob Squarepants. They have $1 movies at 10am throughout the summer.

Of course he had to get some popcorn! Monica said he did really well. He talked a few times, but was mainly really good. I have to admit, I didn't think he'd last.

We also took the kids to watch Aunt Emily play softball a few weeks ago. We sat in the dugout with my parents and the dogs :) I got hit in the knee by a foul ball and it HURT! It came over the top of the dugout roof and no one could see it coming. It was about one foot from Jack's face, but my mom swears she was covering him. I proceeded to yell at Nick for not catching it.

Emily out playing shortstop (and her evil looking dog). She got tons of balls hit to her and did really good. Hunter would yell "Yay Emily" with our coaching and we could see her smiling out there!

My cutie pie

Jack was in a smiley mood and I pulled out the camera...he is most days, but this particular evening a few days ago, he was especially happy!

This is my favorite (above)...his eyes are just sparkling!

My three boys :)

Pictures with Nana & Gigi

My mom took the kids and my grandma to get pictures done a few weeks ago on a day where she was babysitting. I didn't know they were going, but she gave me lots of pictures which was very nice. I had nothing to do with it, so don't think I picked these outfits out for the kids (I hope my mom doesn't read this post). I felt badly about commenting to my mom later about the outfits (i.e. bummy sweatshorts with tucked in polo shirts) b/c I should have just kept my mouth shut. I know she just wanted them in matching outfits, so that is what she found. The most important part is that my grandma is happy and she loves showing off the pictures.

I do like this one of Jack--he looks so happy!
I hope you have a nice weekend. Nick and I are having a "date night" tonight, so we are really excited...after the last few weeks, it is much needed. Then we are going out to the lake Saturday and Sunday with friends, so I hope the weather cooperates :)

A first for Jack...

If you ask Hunter what my favorite store is he will tell you "Target & Costco". Nick and I took the kids to Costco the other day to get another carseat ($80) and then another $250 later, we were out of there. That is the problem with that store...I can't even remember what else we got besides the carseat, pop, and formula. I don't know how that happens every time we go there! (well, I do...picking items off the shelf and putting them in our cart...) We love to eat lunch there after church--they have good pizza, churros, smoothies, etc and we can get a yummy lunch for the three of us for $9. Anyway, it was Jack's first in a cart...I need to bring the cart cover next time, but this was a spur of the moment thing b/c we didn't have the bjorn or stroller with us. Hunter was so cute...he had his arm around Jack and was so happy Jack was there, despite the look on his face. He'd been asking to have Jack sit next to him and we kept telling him soon Jack would be able to.

Church Festival--and we're making progress with sleeping

We are doing better with Hunter's sleeping. I have gotten him to stay in his room and eventually he will go to sleep. I have to start by standing outside his door (with it cracked)...I keep my back to him and ignore him. He goes back and forth to make sure I am there, but eventually gives up. It got to a point yesterday where I could be downstairs and if he came to his door I'd say "don't make me come up there" and he would run back to bed. He still woke up and came to our room twice in the night last night. The best part is he wants Nick to take him back to bed--thank you Hunter. Nick sits there next to him till he falls asleep, which I don't agree with, but he'll have to figure that out on his own. Hopefully a week or two from now we'll be in a good place with this.

Here are some pictures from our church festival. I didn't take that many, but here are a few.

I was selling raffle tix with Jack for two hours and this is what Hunter and Nick were up to. When I saw it later I could not believe Nick let Hunter go on this big inflatable obstacle course alone. Even the volunteer lady saw us at church on Sunday and came up to me saying she couldn't believe Hunter was 2 and made it through this! Most of the kids were 5 or older.

This wall was super high....you can see the size of kids that were mostly on it next to Hunter...even my parents and Gigi were amazed he could climb up this (or was brave enough to try). I was standing outside of it behind the whole thing taking pics.

This is what I would consider as an "age appropriate" inflatable!

Jack had fun taking it all in...it was HOT though!

I can't believe it, but I do

Well, our nanny, Monica, emailed me this afternoon to tell me Hunter was sleeping in his bed. She said he cried for a bit saying "quiet time over" and then fell asleep. He didn't come out of his room once. I should have known this would happen for her. I'm thrilled, but very jealous...and just dumbfounded at the whole thing. Everyone says kids are better for the babysitter and it's so true with our child. Here are several examples.

We struggle to keep him in time out, but she tells him to go there and he sits quietly until she tells him he can get up. I came home Friday and he was sitting quietly like a good boy in time out b/c he'd been being naughty. I witnessed with my own eyes that he can sit there and behave. He is a devil for us when it comes to staying in time out. I had to put him there over 20 times once before he would stay. Nick still has never gotten him to stay there for two minutes.

Another example...It was funny b/c this morning she asked me if he ever uses the small potty (one we used for potty training) any more. I said yes, he insists on using it. She said he never uses it for her and insists on using the big one. I want him to use the big one and he won't. I pretty much make him sit on the big one when he poops so I don't have to clean out the training potty and he throws a complete fit. She said he loves the big one....Of course she is telling the truth, but Hunter is just acting so different for her. I was thinking about taking the potty away forcing him to use the big one and now I know I can b/c clearly he is just fine using it!

I was so stressed thinking she would want to quit on us after dealing with this new sleeping arrangement. Now I'm thinking I need to quadruple her pay and ask her to move in with us!! I'd even give up the master bedroom/bathroom/and my closet to have her there at bedtime so I didn't have to deal with him :)

Why do kids do this to their parents? I mean in a way it makes me frustrated, but happy for Monica of course. It makes me less stressed knowing he's good for her and she's not dealing with what we deal with. It also means there is hope...we have to be able to make it happen. I told her I was coming home early today to get some tips on how to raise my kid b/c she is doing a great job and we stink...haha. I am SO BLESSED and HAPPY to have her....It's been over two years and she has done an amazing job helping us. She is the one who potty trained him for us basically--haha.

Please say a prayer to give Nick and I patience...we need it. I just keep telling myself all parents go through this and it will be fine, but I am spoiled and like my sleep. We've had it so good for so long and I don't like changes like this that mess up my personal time and sleep.

Hunter...I don't even know what to call this post

Hunter has been mentally and physically exhausting us both lately. He started climbing out of his crib, whining, yelling, and just being plain difficult lately. He is funny and great at times, but it's been very challenging lately. I know it will pass, but it's tiring. We converted his bed to a toddler bed on Friday night. I tried to make it fun--we went out Friday and picked out three new toys. I told him we'd play with them on Saturday morning if he slept good in his new bed. We ended up having to lie with him Friday night until he fell asleep. Saturday at nap....it hurts my head to think about it. I kid you not, he came out of his room over 175 times over the course of an hour and a half. Finally I put him in bed and rubbed his back and he crashed as he'd been crying for so long. I remember seeing this Supernanny where a kid did that and I just couldn't believe it...now I do. It's been worse than I could have imagined. I know he will get used to it eventually and we'll be ok, but it's been tough. I am at a loss for what to do...I've looked online, talked to friends, etc and we are not having much luck. We did realize he is afraid when the door is closed, so we'll keep it open some till he falls asleep from now on. I am hoping and praying our nanny has better luck today. He also has woken up a few times in the middle of the night and comes running into our room. Nick takes him back to bed and lies on the floor till he falls back asleep (usually only takes a few minutes in the middle of the night). Well, hopefully in a week we'll be in better shape--I figure, it can't get any worse than this! At least I can look forward to The Bachelorette tonight...haha.

On a happier note, here are a few pictures of him finger painting--and painting himself.

More pictures from our weekend to come. I am thankful that Jack is a cute and easy baby! This weekend four different people came up to us and told us Jack is the most beautiful baby. That made me so happy! One person came up to my mom Saturday night while she was holding him and the other three were on Sunday at church and at the church festival. Two men actually came up to Nick to tell him how cute and what beautiful eyes Jack has. Of course we think so, but I could never imagine Nick going up to a stranger to tell them he thought their baby was cute!